Spay Day helps manage pet population in Minneapolis

Tuesday, Feb. 25, is Spay Day at the City of Minneapolis Animal Care and Control.

Minneapolis Animal Care and Control is partnering with the Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program to highlight the importance of spaying and neutering pets to help control the pet population. Last year, 468 surgeries were performed statewide by a collaboration of animal welfare partners.

Between 6 million and 8 million cats and dogs enter our nation’s shelters each year. Animal shelters cannot save and support this huge number of accidental litters, strays and offspring of family pets. As a result, nearly 4 million animals are humanely euthanized annually in the United States. Spaying and neutering is the only 100 percent proven way to reduce overpopulation.

Minneapolis Animal Care and Control responds to 16,000 field service calls annually, and in 2013 more than 1,250 animals were adopted from the City’s animal shelter. Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program, a nonprofit organization, performed more than 10,000 low-cost spay neuter surgeries for the pets of income-eligible residents throughout the metro area last year.